Blogging at Samhain Publishing Today!

I'm guest blogger today over at Samhain Publishings Blog.

If you have a few minutes, drop by http://www.samhainpublishing.com/blog/ and check out my post, "A Writer By Any Other Name."

Don't forget to leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Ecataromance Reviewers' Choice Nominee!

I'm excited to share that TWO of my books have been nominated for 2006 Reviewers' Choice Awards!

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First, from Samhain Publishing, my contemporary romance, THE WAY HOME, Book 2: Jamesville.

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And, from Ellora's Cave, my Autumn Animalia dragon shape-shifter book, DRAKON'S TREASURE.

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I'm thrilled that both books were nominated.

Edits

Shhh...I'm not really here. I'm in that place that authors both love and hate...the edits cave!

What is the edits cave? It's that place where all the words and pages you've written begin to resemble the book that will finally be released. A good portion of the work has been done by the author (rewriting it many times before even submitting it to your editor), but there is still much to be done.

Thankfully, I've been blessed with incredible editors with both publishing companies I write for. Today, however, I am in the Ellora's Cave edits cave working on my Torrid Tarot submission. Three Swords, One Heart is a fantasy/menage a trois based around the tarot card the three of swords.

As always, my editor has valuable insights and has picked up on content, spelling, punctuation and consistency mistakes, and I'm working my way through them one at a time. It's hard work, but it's satisfying work.

I actually love the editing process. It not only means that the book is closer to being released, it also is the time when your book really becomes something special.

So, shhh. I'm not really here. And I'll see you all again in a few days. :-)

Raven Vampire Nightclub Readers'Bash

Just a reminder that I'll be over at Mandy Roth's and Michelle Pillow's Raven Vampire Nightclub chat group today as part of their Readers' Bash!

There will be lots of authors participating, tons of excerpts to be read and a whole pile of prizes being given away. I'll be giving away a free download from my backlist to some chat participant.

To check it out just go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Raven_Vampire_Nightclub/messages

Hope to see you there!

Survey!

Several folks sent me this survey, so I thought it would be fun to share it with everyone here on my blog!

Because it's more fun than doing revisions. And really, isn't anything, short of dental surgery?

*A) Four jobs I have had in my life:

Avon Lady, Switchboard Operator at a college, Receptionist at an industrial fan company, and Assistant Manager of a used bookstore.

*B) Places I have Lived:

Jamesville, Summersville, Javara and Amanas...at least in my mind. *g*

*C) Wishes I'd Like Granted:

I'd like to sign a contract with a New York publisher, I'd like to hit the New York Times best sellers list, I'd like to have enough money to never have to worry about a paycheck again, and I'd like to travel with my hubby.

*D) Four TV shows I love to watch:

Most Haunted, NCIS, Ghost Whisperer, and any home decorating show. :-)

*E) Four places I have been on vacation:

I've hardly been anywhere, that's why I'd like to travel.

*F) Favorite foods:

Dark chocolate (yes, I consider it a food group), homemade oven fries and chicken burgers (veggi-chicken as I'm a vegetarian), pasta with tomato sauce, and cheese!

*H) Four places I would like to be right now:

New England in the Fall, Scotland, and anywhere warm...maybe Hawaii or the Carribean.

*I) Four friends I think will respond:

I'm not sending it out, but sharing it with all of you. If you'd like to take it and send it to friends, please do.

*RETURN DIRECTIONS:

Now, here's what you're supposed to do... and please do not spoil the fun. * *Delete my answers and type in your answers. Then insert addresses and send this to a whole bunch of people you know INCLUDING the person who sent it to you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little known facts about those who know you. Remember to send it back to the person who sent it to you & cc yourself *

Romance Anyone?

When is a romance truly a romance?

Or, to put it another way, what defines a book as a romance?

I know that everyone has a different opinion, but for me, it's the Happily Ever After (HEA). I mean, that's why I read romance. I know that no matter what happens, in the end, things will work out for the heroine and her hero. Otherwise, what's the point? If there is no HEA, then in my opinion, it is not a romance.

I recently read a book marketed as a romance where the heroine's husband dies on the last page of the book. Not exactly the romantic ending I was hoping for, and I'll admit, I was disappointed. Not in the book, which was an exceptional paranormal read, but with the ending. My disappointment would not have existed except for the fact that the side of the book lists it as a paranormal romance!

When I pick up a romance, I want to be assured that all will end well. If I'm in the mood for something different, I'll pick up a mystery, a fantasy novel, a paranormal or a thriller. Maybe even a chicklit or some women's fiction. I will not expect a HEA from them, so I am not disappointed when I don't get it. I can relax and enjoy the books for what they are...great reads!

But when I reach for a romance, that's what I really want! And for me, that means the HEA!

What do you think?

Ghost Rider!

Okay, I'll admit that I'm one of those people who loves action movies, especially those with a touch of the paranormal. (Not horror movies though...*shudder*)

Hubby and I both decided to run away from work and take in the afternoon opening of the newest comic-made-into-movie extravaganza--GHOST RIDER!

I have to say that I enjoyed it. It was exactly what you'd expect, or want, from this type of movie. It had great special-effects, a decent script and a hero with angst. Plus, it has Sam Elliott. What more could you want from a popcorn movie.

No, it won't ever win any Oscars, but that doesn't matter. It does what it set out to do and those of you looking for that kind of movie will really enjoy it. I can't wait for the sequel...are you kidding me, of course there will be a sequel.

February's Newsletter is out Today!

Just a reminder that the AWAKENING DESIRES Newsletter is out today!

It features all the latest news, an excerpt, an interview with Samhain author, T.K. Winters, as well as a tribute to those hard-working folks who help make romance novels possible--cover artists! Plus a whole lot more!

If you haven't yet signed up, just go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/awakeningdesires/ to join. You can read this months newsletter and past newsletters straight from the yahoo group site. If you want to make sure it comes directly to your mailbox on the 15th of each month, then be sure and set your membership to "individual mail."

*You must be at least 18 years of age or older to sign up for this newsletter*

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope you all have a wonderful day, and if you don't have a spouse or significant other to celebrate with, take yourself out somewhere nice and treat yourself to something special.

I've been reading a couple of books lately, and thought I'd tell you about them. The first one is...

Checkmate by Annmarie McKenna

Blurb:
What’s an alpha shape-shifting wolf to do when the woman pre-destined to be his mate no longer trusts men?

After returning home from an eight-month security job, Eli Graham is ready to claim his best friend’s little sister as his mate. He’d put it off for years, thinking he was doing the right thing by waiting. Instead of the stubborn, independent, carefree girl he left behind, Eli finds a shell of the woman he once knew.

Having lived through a near fatal attack, Nikki Taylor has hidden herself away from the world. Now the time has come to face head-on the one man who could devastate her completely, Eli Graham. She’s loved him forever, craves him, body, heart and soul, but he’s never treated her as anything but a little sister.

When Nikki witnesses a murder, she has no choice but to rely on Eli’s expertise. While guarding her from the man bent on wiping out a witness, Eli shows Nikki that he’ll not only protect her body, but he’ll show her just what it means to be a wolf’s mate.

Checkmate is the sequel to Seeing Eye Mate and it is a must-have for any lover of shapeshifter romance. I just loved it! I think it’s even better than Seeing Eye Mate, if that’s possible.

The emotional and physical turmoil that Nikki goes through is incredibly well-written. The first scene with the men in the parking lot gave me chills it was so realistic, not to mention the scene with the murder. Throw in the fact that Eli is a shapeshifter who knows that Nikki is his mate and you have one heck of a wild ride!

This book is now available at http://www.samhainpublishing.com. Do yourself a favor and check it out.


The next book is...

Animal Attraction By Alexa & Patrick Silver

Blurb:
Wes' Valentine's Day surprise has turned into a nightmare.
Grounded with thousands of other travelers at an airport by a storm, he and his wife will never make their cruise. A romantic holiday atmosphere this is assuredly not!

Brand, a feline shifter, is desperate. Sexual arousal is heavy in the airport and his flight has been canceled. He needs to join with another shifter soon or risk going feral.

When Brand spots Wes and Tabitha, the raw sexuality of these fellow shifters calls to his primal needs. But they aren't average shifters. Secrets and reclaimed heritage may pull them all together or rip them apart.

Animal Attraction is the first Ellora’s Cave release for husband and wife writing duo, Alexa and Patrick Silver, and it's one of many Valentine Vixens Quickies available now from Ellora's Cave.

They hint at a shapeshifter world that is complex and rich for future storylines. This story is a ménage, but not in the usual vein where the men focus their attention solely on the female. In Animal Attraction there is a bond which forms between Brand and Wes as well, making this a true triad in every sense of the word. As a married couple there is an emotional depth between Tabitha and Wes, even though they have been having marital problems. Now that Tabitha is aware of her heritage, she had choices to make that will affect all their futures.

Well-written, face-paced and totally unique, Animal Attraction is sure to be the first of many shapeshifter books from this writing duo. If you want something to heat up a cold winter’s night, then give this book a try.

Chatting at Coffee Time Romance Tonight!

I'll be chatting over at Coffee Time Romance tonight along with authors Alison Paige, K.Z. Snow and Desiree Holt. The chat starts at 9 PM EST.

I'll be chatting about my latest Ellora's Cave release, ANASTASIA'S STYLE, which is part of the Valentine Vixens series. It's the perfect time of year to celebrate love!

If you'd like to stop by and chat just go to http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/Chat.html and join in the fun.

I hope to see you there!

Joyfully Reviewed Newsletter Contest!

Just wanted to let you all know that I'm participating in the Joyfully Reviewed Newsletter contest. Everyone who signs up for my newsletter between Feb 6th and the 13th will be eligable to win a print book from my print backlist!

Check it out at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chatting_with_Joyfully_Reviewed/ and go to post 33947 for more details. There are a lot of other authors participating as well and tons of prizes to be won!

For those of you who are already members of my newsletter group, don't despair! I'll be handing out two prizes this month, instead of just one, to some lucky newsletter subscribers!

Writing and Reading in Different Genres

Author, Annmarie McKenna, is blogging over at the Samhain blog today, so go over and check her out. She's talking about writing and reading in different genres and it got me to thinking about that subject.

As writers, I think that many of us start out with certain expectations of what we will and won't write. When I started writing, it was strictly contemporary romance. Then I discovered the world of erotic romance. Not that it was entirely new. Some authors I'd been reading for years were writing pretty HOT stuff. But this was different. I tried my hand at writing an erotic romance and was surprised by how much fun I had doing it. I may not be able to say out loud most of the more graphic words that I write, but I have no trouble writing them. LOL

Once I'd expanded my horizons to erotic romance, other ones beckoned. Since I've started, I've written erotic books that are contemporary, paranormal, menage, vampire, shape-shifter and fantasy. And even though I said that I'd never write a historical book, I do have one kicking around in my brain. I guess once you open the door, anything is possible.

I find it's the same with my reading. If I like a particular author, I'll try anything that they write, although there are some genres that just don't appeal to me. For instance, I love historical romance, but primarily Medieval and Regency. I'm not a fan of Civil War romance even though I have tried a few. I'm also reading more paranormal romance than I used to as well. There are a lot of great authors publishing in that genre at the moment.

I guess the same rings true for writing as it does for reading. Never say never! As we grow and change as people, our taste in our reading evolves as well. Doesn't mean we don't love our old standards, but we open ourselves up to finding new favorites as well. The same goes with writing. I have no idea where mine might lead me, but I'm more than willing to follow it and give it a try!

Third Year in a Row!

I just found out that my story "Sunshine for a Vampire" has been accepted as part of the 2007 Ellora's Cavemen Anthology series!

This is the third year in a row that one of my stories has been chosen and I'm absolutely thrilled. I know how steep the competition is to get into these anthologies as there are only a limited amount of spaces.

My story will be in Seasons of Seduction III which is due out on the Autumn Equinox in September! I can't wait!

Dalakis Embrace is now in PRINT!

I'm so excited!

For those of you who have been writing and asking me when and if the first two books in the Dalakis Passion series will go into print, the wait is over!

Both HARKER'S JOURNEY and LUCIAN'S DELIGHT, books 1 and 2 of the series, have been packaged together and are in the print book--DALAKIS EMBRACE!

Check out the Cover Flat for the book! Isn't it gorgeous!

You can check it out on the Ellora's Cave homepage at http://www.ellorascave.com or you can go straight to the EC-eBay store http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220078292516 !